1 Corinthians 11:20
“When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.”
What does 1 Corinthians 11:20 mean?
Paul is addressing a serious problem in the Corinthian church: when they gathered for their meal together, the wealthy were eating and drinking while the poor went hungry, turning what should have been a shared sacred meal into something that reflected their divisions and selfishness. He's saying that what they're doing has lost the whole point of the Lord's supper, which is meant to unite believers in remembering Jesus' sacrifice and commitment to one another. This is a gentle but firm wake-up call. You can't claim to be honoring Jesus' death and resurrection while simultaneously ignoring the basic needs and dignity of your brothers and sisters sitting right next to you. Paul uses this blunt statement to push them to examine their hearts and fix how they're actually treating each other during worship.